Idec on boxing: Hasbrouck Heights boxer inspired by Mom

PASSAIC — Julian Rodriguez was 12 the first time he fought a grown man in a boxing ring.

His sparring partner, hard-hitting Colombian Carlos Tamara, was twice his age and an eventual world champion at 108 pounds. Rodriguez sparred against numerous contenders and former champions as he developed into one of the most accomplished amateur fighters in the country over the ensuing six years, but nothing boxing-related made him worry as much as his mom’s recent health scare.

Nicole Mullen underwent heart surgery Sept. 19 to correct a rare condition that could’ve killed her had doctors not detected it in time. Her ordeal made training for his long-awaited pro debut Saturday night in Atlantic City even more stressful for Rodriguez, who graduated from Hasbrouck Heights High School three months ago.

"It really just made me work harder," Rodriguez, 18, said before a recent training session at Garden State School of Boxing. "What really kept me going [before and during the surgery] was that she’s young [37]. People who have these surgeries are usually 75, 80, and they come out fine. So I was thinking to myself, ‘If the old people can do it, she’ll be fine.’ ’’

Mullen is indeed fine. She was released from the hospital Wednesday and intends to sit ringside Saturday night to watch her son’s first professional fight, a four-round, junior welterweight bout against Kevin Benson (1-1) of Omaha, Neb.

"It feels great to know she’ll be there," Rodriguez said. "It just shows how much she supports me. That motivates me, knowing that someone has so much faith in you and supports you so much. I’ve got to make sure I do good for her."

Rodriguez’s handlers have complete confidence that Rodriguez’s pro career will begin in impressive fashion. His debut will be broadcast on tape delay by Spanish-language UniMas from Bally’s Events Center as part of a midnight telecast that’ll feature Glen Tapia (19-0, 11 KOs), a junior middleweight contender from Passaic, in a 10-round main event against Elco Garcia (27-8, 13 KOs) of Ignacio, Colo.

Rodriguez’s father, Alex Devia, trains Rodriguez and Tapia, both of whom are promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. and managed by Pat Lynch, who guided late legend Arturo Gatti’s entire career. The expertise and patience Top Rank and Lynch displayed in building Tapia into a 154-pound contender convinced Devia and Rodriguez that it’s the right company to mold the reigning National Golden Gloves 141-pound champion into a top professional prizefighter and an attraction in New Jersey and New York.

"There’s two things we look at when we’re going to sign a prospect, as far as investing in someone from Day One," said North Arlington’s Carl Moretti, Top Rank’s vice president of boxing operations. "That’s ability and marketability. Julian clearly has both, in our eyes."

Rodriguez is eager to impress on a night he has dreamed about since he first fought as an amateur nearly 11 years ago at the Joe Grier Boxing Academy in Paterson.